'Free Range' Parents Cleared Of Neglect In One Case

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Court reports and attorneys say a Maryland couple investigated for neglect after letting their two young children walk home alone from local parks have been cleared in one of two such cases.

The Washington Post (http://wapo.st/1FTnKxm ) reports Danielle and Alexander Meitiv have been monitored by Child Protective Services for their advocacy of so-called "free-range" parenting, which encourages independence and exploration.

Documents say the case against the Meitivs for allowing their 10 and 6-year-old children walk home from a park about a mile away in December was dismissed.

But authorities say the Meitivs are under investigation for neglect related to their children walking home April 12 from another park. The children were held by police and Child Protective Services for more than five hours that day.

The suburban Washington, D.C., parents have been investigated three times since October.